Now in its 28th season, the Muelder Summer Carillon Concert Series brings the unique sound of the bells to life from the heart of MSU’s campus at historic Beaumont Tower. Curated by Jon Lehrer, director and carillonist of Beaumont Tower, this year’s series features six award-winning guest artists, including four honorees from the 2024 Queen Fabiola International Carillon Competition. Concerts take place every Wednesday at 6:00 p.m., July 2 through August 6, and are free and open to the public. Join us for a summer evening of music—bring a chair or blanket, pack a picnic, and enjoy the beautiful campus surroundings.
Guest Carillonist: Rowan Shih
Rowan Shih is a rising senior at the University of Chicago, where they study comparative literature and creative writing, with a special interest in Ancient Greek and Chinese texts. A native of New York City, they began playing carillon as a first-year student under the instruction of Alex Johnson and achieved carillonneur status from the Guild of Carillonneurs in North America in 2024. Outside of music and academics, Rowan enjoys cooking, contemplative walks, and photographing clouds.
Rowan’s program unfolds in four themed movements, beginning with an Invocation to the Muse featuring both a modern and Baroque take on inspiration. The recital continues with Music for Summer, highlighting works by Piazzolla and Hisaishi, and then explores a teacher-student connection through pieces by Staf Nees and Émilien Allard. The closing section, The Magical Music of Oz, is a lyrical tribute to fantastical journeys, including selections from The Wizard of Oz, Wicked, and Elton John’s iconic Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.
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